Italy

Italian Foreign Minister

07 Jan 2024 7 2

Ursula von der Leyen

Inserted 8 months ago

“Irregular migration is a European challenge and it needs a European response, we are in this together. You can count on the EU.”

President of the European Commission

17 Sep 2023 3 3

John Dickie

Inserted 1 year ago

“He [Matteo Messina Denaro] was the youngest member of a leadership group within the Sicilian mafia that took control of the Sicilian mafia in the early 1980s, essentially by massacring all their rivals, and then mounted a major attack on the Italian state. All of this was aimed at trying to get the state to back down from a major onslaught against organised crime that had been gaining momentum … [but] that onslaught has continued and Messina Denaro was the last of that leadership group still at large. [His arrest] is a very important symbolic gesture which shows that ultimately the state will win, and the state is winning in the case of the Sicilian mafia.”

Professor of Italian studies at University College London and an expert on the mafia

16 Jan 2023 3 1

Giorgia Meloni

Inserted 1 year ago

“The prevention [of] and fight against mafia crime … will continue to be an absolute priority of this government.”

Italian Prime Minister

16 Jan 2023 1 1

Francesco Galietti

Inserted 2 years ago

“Mattarella's election belies the fact that most of Italy's political parties are in tatters. We need to understand whether the key ingredient of Draghi's government - a broad, cross-partisan majority - will still be there in a few weeks, because if not, the situation will rapidly become untenable.”

Head of political risk consultancy Policy Sonar

30 Jan 2022 4 2

Mario Draghi

Inserted 2 years ago

“We must never lose sight of the fact that most of the problems we have today are because there are non-vaccinated people. For the umpteenth time, I invite all those Italians who are not yet vaccinated to do so, and to get the third shot.”

Prime Minister of Italy

10 Jan 2022 4 2

Roberto Speranza

Inserted 2 years ago

“The identification of the Omicron variant in the southern part of Africa confirms the urgency to do more to vaccinate the population of the most fragile countries. It is not enough to donate doses.”

Nytimes

Minister of Health of Italy

29 Nov 2021 4 3

Ivan Russo

Inserted 2 years ago

“Out of 400,000 drivers, we estimate that 30% do not have the green pass. On top of that, we fear for the foreign workers, many of whom have been vaccinated with Sputnik or other vaccines not approved by the European or Italian medicines agencies. We therefore foresee a risk of severe blockage in the sector.”

Director general of Confetra, the transport and logistics federation

14 Oct 2021 7 4

Virginia Raggi

Inserted 2 years ago

“As they say in Rome, I took on the most difficult part of the job and I did it with conviction. Now those who come after me have no more excuses for not doing a good job, and we're going to be watching them closely.”

Nytimes

Mayor of Rome

04 Oct 2021 0 3

Renato Brunetta

Inserted 2 years ago

“Nothing like this has been done in Europe … we are putting ourselves in the forefront internationally.”

Italy's Public Administration Minister

16 Sep 2021 1 1

Roberto Speranza

Inserted 2 years ago

“The Green Pass is an instrument of freedom, that will help us make workplaces safer. The second reason is to reinforce our vaccine campaign.”

Minister of Health of Italy

16 Sep 2021 3 4

Nicola Lupo

Inserted 2 years ago

“Over the past 10 years attempts to set up a structure similar to Forza Italia for a post-Berlusconi-era have intensified. This move now looks like good timing, with the health condition of Berlusconi and a huge government majority, which gives MPs more flexibility to change party. Italy is rowing towards an unknown destination as Draghi has already determined big changes in the political system, and others are likely to happen in view of the presidential election in 2022. If there are changes to the government after that, a group of 25 parliamentarians could be decisive in forming another government, whereas 12 months ago it would have had little impact.”

Director of the Centre for Parliamentary Studies at Luiss University in Rome

27 May 2021 4 3

Luigi Brugnaro

Inserted 2 years ago

“Thanks to Berlusconi, he has been courageous, but now we have to look ahead, we are in another era. We are not against anyone, we say thanks, but we have to look to the future, we need young people.”

Mayor of Venice and founder of political party Coraggio Italia

27 May 2021 3 2

Matteo Salvini

Inserted 3 years ago

“If there was no kidnapping in Catania, then I do not see why there should be kidnapping in Palermo. It is a beautiful day, not only for me and my family, but for all Italians who want a controlled, regulated and positive immigration, and not thousands of arrivals that in this post-COVID summer we cannot permit.”

Leader of the League party

14 May 2021 1 3

Matteo Salvini

Inserted 3 years ago

“I am going to trial with my head held high, in your name as well as mine. Italy first, always. Defending our country is a citizen's sacred duty … that is what I am being tried for.”

Leader of the League party

17 Apr 2021 0 2

Oscar Camps

Inserted 3 years ago

“Violating a fundamental right such as the protection of human beings at sea for the sake of political propaganda is shameful. The trial [of Matteo Salvini] would be an opportunity to judge a period of European history.”

Director of the NGO Proactiva Open Arms

17 Apr 2021 1 1

Mario Giarrusso

Inserted 3 years ago

“People are being vaccinated who are outside of any priority category specified by the government, particularly in some regions where there is high density of mafia, and we suspect that the mafia is managing the vaccinations.”

Italian politician and member of the anti-mafia commission and long-standing anti-mafia campaigner

09 Apr 2021 2 1

Mario Draghi

Inserted 3 years ago

“I was very displeased by the humiliation that President von der Leyen had to suffer. It's that with these - let's call them what they are - dictators, of whom, however, one has need, one must be frank in expressing differences of views, opinions, behavior, of visions of society....but also ready to collaborate, more to cooperate, to cooperate to ensure the interests of one's country.”

Apnews

Prime Minister of Italy

08 Apr 2021 5 3

Luigi Di Maio

Inserted 3 years ago

“The accusation of espionage against Italian and Russian officers shows that we must continue to work closely with Europe and our allies to constantly improve our means of protecting the safety and well-being of our citizens.”

Foreign minister of Italy

31 Mar 2021 1 3

Mario Draghi

Inserted 3 years ago

“There is the impression that certain companies [drugmakers who developed coronavirus vaccines], and I won't name names, sold things two, three times.”

Prime Minister of Italy

26 Mar 2021 2 2

Mario Draghi

Inserted 3 years ago

“Supporting this government means sharing the view that the decision on the euro is irreversible, sharing the vision of an increasingly integrated European Union, moving towards a common budget capable of supporting countries in times of recession.”

Prime Minister of Italy

17 Feb 2021 1 3

Vito Crimi

Inserted 3 years ago

“Since the first round of consultations with the political parties, Draghi put the ecology transition at the top of his agenda.”

Leader of the Movement 5-Star

13 Feb 2021 0 2

Mario Draghi

Inserted 3 years ago

“Ours will be an ecological government.”

Prime Minister of Italy

13 Feb 2021 0 2

Luigi Di Maio

Inserted 3 years ago

“Today I am announcing that the government has revoked the authorisations under way for the export of missiles and aircraft bombs to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. [This is] an act that we considered due, a clear message of peace coming from our country. For us, respect for human rights is an unbreakable commitment.”

Foreign minister of Italy

29 Jan 2021 3 6

Wolfango Piccoli

Inserted 3 years ago

“The strength of the ruling coalition in Italy is its weakness – they know they cannot afford elections. I don’t think this crisis will yield anything particularly meaningful. It will just be another waste of time at the worst time possible for the country.”

Co-president of the Teneo consultancy firm

05 Jan 2021 0 1

Giuseppe Conte

Inserted 3 years ago

“Time is running out and we need to prepare for a hard Brexit.”

Prime Minister of Italy

11 Dec 2020 5 2

Giacomo Grasselli

Inserted 3 years ago

“Paradoxically, it’s more difficult to work now than it was in March or April. We warn that if the infection rate doesn’t come down then we’ll run out of beds, and based on that the politicians decide. But then someone else goes on TV and says we’re terrorising people and it’s all an exaggeration, and so people struggle to understand and become less tolerant of healthcare workers.”

Head of intensive care at Milan’s Policlinico hospital

18 Nov 2020 2 3

Giovanni Leoni

Inserted 3 years ago

“Beds and ventilators have increased but staff figures have practically stayed the same. And those who are there have a much heavier workload. This is the biggest problem as it’s not easy to find anaesthetists, or nurses able to work in critical care, as it’s such a specialism.”

Vice-president of the Italian order of doctors

18 Nov 2020 4 2

Giuseppe Conte

Inserted 3 years ago

“The primary objective is to regain control of the epidemiological curve to avoid that its steady rise can compromise the efficacy of our health sector, as well as the resilience of the social and economic system as a whole.”

Prime Minister of Italy

27 Oct 2020 0 4

Sergio Mattarella

Inserted 3 years ago

“Italians also love freedom but we also care about seriousness.”

President of Italy

24 Sep 2020 4 2

Pierpaolo Sileri

Inserted 3 years ago

“I think wearing masks, which was one of the early rules [imposed], has been fundamental in reducing the transmission. We have been very rigid with the use of masks in enclosed spaces and where physical distancing is difficult to maintain. We also gradually eased the lockdown. So having rigid rules today represents real liberty, normality comes with following the rules and not following them, in my opinion, is contrary to future freedom.”

Italy deputy health minister

24 Sep 2020 2 2

Vincent Cochetel

Inserted 3 years ago

“Departures from Tunisia are the most problematic for the time being but we could see an increase also from Algeria as young people, unemployed ... they don't see political and economic solutions for their problem.”

U.N. Refugee Agency's special envoy for the Central Mediterranean

08 Aug 2020 4 1

Giorgia Meloni

Inserted 3 years ago

“I’m shocked. Conte is arguing in the Senate that without a state of emergency the government is unable to make normal decrees, bills, ordinances. This is a gross lie and a very dangerous assault on liberty.”

Head of the far-right Brothers of Italy party

28 Jul 2020 3 3

Giuseppe Conte

Inserted 3 years ago

“The virus continues to evolve and has not run its course. It would be incongruous to abruptly suspend such an effective measure.”

Prime Minister of Italy

28 Jul 2020 3 3

Giuseppe Sala

Inserted 3 years ago

“He was a great journalist who fought for freedom of the press. When we judge our own lives, can we say that ours is spotless? Lives must be judged in their complexity.”